When I had Ubuntu up and running I was quite anxious to play with the new OS and customize it with my favorite apps. Some apps I was able to install via Add/Remove Applications (Azureus, Amule, VLC) quite easily, other apps I had to understand how Synaptic worked and read through the Ubuntu wikis.

The first app I wanted to install was Skype and here I describe how I did it hoping it comes handy to other beginners like me.

Installing Skype through Repository:

Go to: System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager

You will be asked for your system password, then a Synaptic Package Manager window will come up.
This window shows the so called repositories which control the installation process and get the application packets from the Internet into the OS.

From the Synaptic Pagake Manager window click Settings>Repositories.

From the new window Software Sources select the Third Party tab and click Add.